BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

The Newport Water Polo Foundation’s under-18, 16 and 14 girls’ teams begin play today at the S&R; Sport Junior Olympics Water Polo Championships, which run through Sunday at sites in Cupertino and San Jose. The tournament features the top junior club teams in the country.

The girls’ 18s and 16 teams feature familiar names to fans of Newport Harbor High girls’ water polo. The 18s team features Sailors goalie Morgan Vickers, as well as Mimi Bury, lefty Jessica Robinson and Rosary transfer Nina McCall.

Both the under-18 and under-16 squads are also coached by Bill Barnett and Brian Melstrom, who coach at Newport Harbor.

“Morgan is our defensive leader, and Mimi has developed into a very strong player at two-meter and driver,” Melstrom said. “She can do it all. Jessica is a good passer, and Nina is a good defender. Those girls can help to fuel the offense.”

The under-18s are the top-seeded team in one of 16 pools for the 48-team tournament. The under-16 team will be led by incoming Tars sophomores Kate Klippert and Kaleigh Gilchrist, who both were on the varsity last year for Newport Harbor. Melstrom said that Mia Butera, an incoming Harbor junior, is also a good outside shooter and attacker.

“The goal is to take it one game at a time with the 16s,” Melstrom said. “That way they don’t lose focus or get disappointed. I’d be very happy with a top-10 finish. That’d be our best finish ever for the 16s.”

The under-16 girls are also the top seed in their three-team bracket, which also includes the Diablo B and COLA teams.

NWPF’s 14-and-under girls’ team, coached by Rob Williams, features standouts like goalie Sarah Wilkey and field players Mary Rose Wight and Ashley Erickson. Williams said they are seeded seventh of the 32 teams in the field. NWPF begins the double-elimination tournament in a pool with Diablo, San Diego Shores and Lodi teams.

“I hope to improve on that seed,” Williams said. “We’re hoping to get a top-six to top-eight finish at least.”

The under-12 girls team, which Williams also coaches, features standouts like goalie Tara Jacobsen, and field players Carly Christian and Ally McCormick. NWPF is seeded fifth in that 24-team bracket, in a pool with the Commerce and SJA clubs.

The NWPF boys’ teams also competed in the boys’ S&R; Sport Junior Olympics Water Polo Championships, which finished on Tuesday in San Jose.

Newport Water Polo Foundation’s 14-and-under boys’ team finished seventh out of 32 teams and compiled a 5-2 record. It beat Santa Barbara Water Polo Club, 11-5, in its final game.

The 18-and-under boys finished ninth, beating Los Altos, 9-8, in a shootout in the ninth-place game. The 16-and-under boys finished 11th after beating Clovis, 5-4.

— Matt Szabo